Improvement in fire-escape ladders



ZSheets-Sheetl. J. A. GROSHON.

Paten'tecl Sept. 26, 1876.

R E D D A E P A c s E E R I F 0 6 6 z 8 1 L N 14mm- Mkw.

MPEYERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, 0 G.

+ UNI D STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN A. GROSHON, or New YORK, N. Y., :AssIGNoR TO HIMSELF AND JOHNBUOKHOUT, or SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FlRe-esoAre LADDERS;

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,660, datedSeptember 26, 1876; application filed August 18, 1876.

- To all whom it may concern:

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1represents a longitudinal vertical section of my improvement when theparts are folded together. Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof when the parts areunfolded.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

' My invention consists in the combination of a telescopic truck-frame,with a Windlass arranged in the extensible section of the frame, andwith two ropes or chains, one of which extends from the Windlass to atraverse of'the main section, while the other passes through a traverseof the extensible section, and thence to a traverse of the main section,so that by means of this Windlass and the two ropes, the frame caneither be extended or contracted.

It consists also in a derrick for supporting the ladder, and a Windlassand rope for ele vating such derrick, in conjunction with a compoundlever made in two sections, which are hinged to the sides of thederrick, and connected by hinged straps or links, by means of whichlever the operation of hoisting the derrick is facilitated; further, inthe combination, with the derrick and with the truckframe, of sidebraces, which are pivoted to the truck-frame and to the derrick, andserve to stifien and prevent a lateral movement of the latter. a

In the drawing, the letter A designates the frame of my ladder, made intwo sections, 1 2, which are arranged to telescope one within the other.In the extensible section 1 of the frame is mounted a drum, B, and tothis drum is fastened one end of a rope or chain, a, (one or more,) theother end of which is fastened to a cross-piece, b, of the main section2, so that when the said .rope' or chain a is wound on the drum B, thetwo sections 1 2 are extended.

It may be here remarked that the sections 1 2 are intended to beextended when the lad der and derrick (which will be presentlydescribed) are not in use. 1

To the main section 2 of the frame is hinged.

hung at oneflend on the pivot f, andbeing pivoted to the derrick attheir other ends, as at 9. To the round by which the levers D arepivoted together is attached one end of a rope or chain, h, the lowerend thereof being fastened to a Windlass or drum, E, which is mounted inthe main section 2 of the frame.

When the drum E is revolved so as to wind the ropes or chains h thereon,the derrick O .is raised, and can thus be set at any desired angle. Whenthe ladders are in a horizontal position the round of the levers D, towhich one end of the rope is attached, will be somewhat above saidladders, giving sufticient purchase to the rope to raise the ladders,which would be almost impossible if the rope were attached directly tosaid ladders.

The levers D are so connected to the derrick O that they call bedetached therefrom and laid alongside thereof when the machine is foldedup, as seen in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of strengthening the derrick O, and preventing lateralsway thereof, I connect to each side thereof a brace, 1, these bracesbeing pivoted to the derrick and to the part 2 of the truck-frame attheir respective ends, so as to move with the derrick.

To the section 1 of the frame is connected a ladder, F, bymeans of apivot, 11,:and with this ladder is combined a secondary ladder, G, whichis made to slide on the said main ladder. The secondary ladder G issupported by means of a rope or chain, j, one end of which is fastenedto a suitable part thereof, and which passes over a pulley, k, at theupper part of the main ladder F, while its other end is fastened to adrum, H, so that when the said rope or chainj is wound on this drum thesecondary ladder G is elevated, and vice versa. To the sides of the mainladder F are affixed anti-friction rollers m, in such a way that thesecondary ladder G slides under such rollers and is guidedthereby; bywhich means the movement of the said secondary ladder is greatlyfacilitated, and the same is prevented from dropping off. To the mainladder F is fastened oneend of a rope or chain, Z, (one or.

or chain lon the drum J, the ladder being then supported primarily bythe derrick, but also by the drum J.

I prefer to close the buckets K, and provide them with one or morestop-cocks, through which they can be filled or emptied.

With the several drums or windlasses herein mentioned are combinedsuitable ratchetwheels and stop-pawls for holding the drums in anyposition to which they'may be adjusted.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. Thecombination of the telescopic truck- .frame with a Windlass secured inthe extensible section of the frame, and with two ropes,

one of which extends from the Windlass to a traverse of the mainsection, while the other passes through a traverse secured to theextensible section, and thence to a traverse secured to the main sectionof the frame, so that by one and the same Windlass the frame can beextended and contracted, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the compound lever I), made of two sections,which are hinged to the derrick, and connected by hinged straps, therope h attached to the round of the levers and passing around a Windlassjournaled in the derrick, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the derrick and with the truck-frame, of sidebraces, which are pivoted to the truck-frame and to the derrick,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim, the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 16th day of August, 1876.

' JOHN A. GROSHON. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

JOHN R. MARSTON, W. HAUFF.

